Day 54 · Week 8
Passage: Matthew 6:1–6; 1 Samuel 16:7
Memory Verse: Matthew 5:8
1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV)
“For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
Two people can do the same good thing for very different reasons.
One person may help because they genuinely care. Another may help because they want to be noticed. One may pray because they want fellowship with God. Another may pray mainly to impress people.
Jesus addresses this directly in Matthew 6. He warns against doing religious acts “to be seen of men.”
The action may look right while the motive is wrong.
This is one reason purity of heart matters so much. God is not fooled by appearances, but He also is not trying to catch us in hidden faults so He can condemn us. He wants to free us from living for approval.
A pure motive asks, “Would I still do this if nobody noticed?”
That question can reveal a lot.
We all have mixed motives at times. The answer is not to stop doing good until our motives are perfect. It is to bring our motives honestly to God and ask Him to purify them.
When pleasing God becomes more important than impressing people, we become freer to do what is right quietly and sincerely.
Why can wanting other people's approval become a problem even when we are doing something good?
Would I still choose this good action if nobody knew I had done it?
Ask God to purify your motives and help your family do what is right because you love Him, not because you want attention.